Dec
24
When the Christmas season rolls around, English-speaking Trinidad starts singing in Spanish. Episode #39 explains – briefly – the whys and wherefores of the musical form known as parang and offers a sampling of parang tunes by Los Parranderos de UWI.
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Links:
“The Sound of Christmas” – 1997 Article on parang by yours truly (PDF format (1.8 MB) – first published in Caribbean Beat) | Buy Los Parranderos de UWI’s Mi Parranda at Rhyner’s Caribbean Music Online Store
Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you’re an Amazon.com shopper, you can also support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.
We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, Caribbean Free Video, our vidcast, or put yourself on our Frappr map.
Happy Holidays!
Dec
18
Dominique Le Gendre at home in London
Dominique Le Gendre with Royal Opera House accompanist Chris Willis
CFR gets classical in episode #38, as I visit with Trinidad-born composer Dominique Le Gendre at her home in London. I chat with Dominique about her early musical influences, about Caribbeanness and the classical tradition, her experiences as a Associate Artist at the Royal Opera House and her chamber opera “Bird of Night”, which is set to debut at the Royal Opera House in October 2006.
Play this episode using this link:
powered by ODEO
Or access CFR using any of these methods:
Download MP3 | RSS | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via Odeo
Links:
The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare: 38 Fully-Dramatized Plays
– audio version of the Bard’s complete works, scored by Dominique | Royal Opera House
Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you plan on doing any of your holiday shopping at Amazon.com, do support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.
We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, Caribbean Free Video, our vidcast, or put yourself on our Frappr map.
Technorati Tags: caribbean, classical music, derek walcott, music, opera, dominique le gendre, royal opera house, trinidad + tobago
Dec
01
Dropped in at 3canal headquarters this afternoon and next thing I knew a mini-podcast was in the offing! In down-and-dirty episode #37, CFR’s “house band” premieres “Rise”, their first single for the 2006 Carnival season, and talks about drawing inspiration from the Trinidad & Tobago football team’s recent qualification for the 2006 World Cup, their 2006 Carnival show, and other matters.
Play this episode using this link:
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Or access CFR using any of these methods:
Download MP3 | RSS | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via Odeo
Buy 3canal’s 2005 album Jab Jab Say at CD Baby.
Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt, and if you plan on doing any of your holiday shopping at Amazon.com, do support CFR by initating your purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.
We’re always tickled as well when you check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog, Caribbean Free Video, our vidcast, or put yourself on our Frappr map.
Technorati Tags: caribbean, music, rapso, trinidad, trinidad + tobago
Sep
20
In which I get on Skype with my colleague and buddy Simon Lee, erstwhile Trinidad-based journalist now back in London, and shoot the breeze on topics ranging from this year’s Notting Hill Carnival to the recent production of Derek Walcott‘s “Steel” in Trinidad and the demise of the bricks-and-mortar version of Rhyner’s Record Store; and of course, ol’ Sio’s favourite topic–la música!.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS | Subscribe via Odeo
Simon’s music recommendations: In the Heart of the Moon
by Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté, and anything from Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and conguero Miguel “Anga” Diaz.
Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt or by initiating your Amazon.com purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.
We always appreciate it as well when you vote for us at Podcast Alley or check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog.
Technorati Tags: notting+hill+carnival, omar+sosa, miguel+anga+diaz, cuban+music, cuba, trinidad, caribbean+music
Sep
18
“Macafouchette” is a French creole word meaning leftovers, and it’s also the title of this show in which I–after another longish absence–sneak a few hours out out of my ridiculous schedule, dip into the CFR storage bins and choose a couple of choice tidbits which I hope come together to make something resembling a show. In this one I demonstrate one of the possible reasons West Indies cricket is in the state it’s in, talk about some of the stupid and awful things happening these days in Trinidad and Tobago and take you back to St. Barts for a musical interlude.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS | Subscribe via Odeo
Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt or by initiating your Amazon.com purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.
We always appreciate it as well when you vote for us at Podcast Alley or check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog.
Music played in this podcast:
“Fruit Punch & Bacardi” by Sherrif feat. Bumper and Starboy | “City of Grace” by Eldon Blackman from the album Spirit of Love
Sep
01
A short one just to say I’m alive, well and swamped with work, and also to thank you all for supporting CFR with donations and t-shirt purchases, with special thanks to Dave Slusher for mentioning his CFR t-shirt purchase on the Evil Genius Chronicles. I also play a PSA with info about one of the ways you can support the victims of Hurricane Katrina, remember the Martiniquans who died in the plane crash in Venezuela on August 16, and say that I’ll probably be attending the Portable Media Expo in November.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS | Subscribe via Odeo
Please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt or by initiating your Amazon.com purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.
We always appreciate it as well when you vote for us at Podcast Alley or check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog.
Music played in this podcast:“Trinidad Hurricane” by Wilmoth Houdini from the album Roosevelt in Trinidad: Calypsos of Events, Places and Personalities, 1933-1939| “Planète Lá” by Beethova Obas form the album Planète Lá | “Borderline” by 3canal from the album Jab Jab Say
Just also received an email from Putumayo World Music announcing that they will be donating all proceeds from their critically acclaimed albums New Orleans and Mississippi Blues to relief efforts in the Gulf Coast area through the end of the year.
Technorati Tags: Hurricane+Katrina, caribbean, Martinique+plane+crash, podcast, Trinidad, caribbean+music, Putumayo, portable+media+expo
Aug
11
Another instalment in CFR’s Video Chronicles series (which just got established as I wrote this, by the way), in which I invite my friend and colleague Danielle Dieffenthaller to help me tell the story of the video shoot which spelt the end for one unfortunate member of the species Dasyprocta leporina. Sorry we couldn’t put our hands on a copy of the song “Goutimania” as promised on the show.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS
Our sponsor is on hiatus (perhaps permanently) so CFR is now officially unsponsored, so please consider supporting us by buying a CFR t-shirt or by initiating your Amazon.com purchases by clicking on any of the Amazon.com links on the site.
We always appreciate it as well when you vote for us at Podcast Alley or check out Caribbean Free Photo, our photoblog.
Music played in this podcast:
“Met Kolobri” by RAM from the CD “Le Jardin”.
Technorati Tags: caribbean, trinidad, video, filmmaking, agouti, animals,
Jul
27
July was a month of shortish shows and #27 is no exception. This episode includes musings on yesterday’s power outage | a thank you to new listeners | a reminder to buy t-shirts | thoughts on subscribing via Odeo | congratulations to the Trinidad & Tobago Computer Society on being the producers of the Caribbean’s second podcast (site|feed) | CFR has a drunken fan (or at least a fan who writes emails while inebriated) | Delphine’s blog | a special message from 3Canal re: their Emancipation Concert.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS
Links:
Vote for Caribbean Free Radio at Podcast Alley. Help us make the Top 50 this month! | Tortuga Rum Company – makers of the world-famous Tortuga Rum Cakes. Order yours online today! | Caribbean Free Photo – CFR’s photoblog | Treat yourself to a CFR t-shirt!
Music played in this podcast:
“Old Lady Walk a Mile” by Élan Parlé, from Élan Parlé 5 – The Ming-Toy Project | “Now Is The Time (ronaldinho remix)” by 3Canal (remixed by Robbie Styles) from The Now Is The Time Is Now Remixes
Technorati Tags: caribbean, music, trinidad+tobago, rapso, 3canal, podcast, odeo, blog
Jul
14
Another Emily update (with apologies to the nation of Grenada for omitting to mention that they had also taken a bit of a beating), plus musings on Trinidad and Tobago’s being featured on the Wikipedia front page | CFR’s scandalous omission from the iTunes podcast directory | Bicyclemark’s much-appreciated support | CFR’s alleged appearance on Sirius Satellite Radio | my trip to the Blood Bank, and more.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS
Links:
WeatherCarib | National Hurricane Center – and their Emily RSS feed | Weather Underground | Taran Rampersad’s blog | Wikipedia | CFR’s Odeo page | Bicyclemark’s Audiocommuniqué | Digital Flotsam – P W Fenton’s podcast
Music played in this podcast:
“Keep Trying” by Eldon Blackman from the album Spirit of Love
Other links:
Nominate your favourite podcast/s for a Podcast Award! (Be sure to read the rules, however) | Vote for Caribbean Free Radio at Podcast Alley. Help us make the Top 50 this month! | Tortuga Rum Company – makers of the world-famous Tortuga Rum Cakes. Order yours online today! | Caribbean Free Photo – CFR’s photoblog | Treat yourself to a CFR t-shirt!
Technorati Tags: hurricane, tropical+storm, hurricane+emily, caribbean, podcast, weather, odeo, itunes, podcasting, podcast+directory, caribbeanmusic
Jun
27
Another dispatch from the garden, in which I talk about:
The addition of the CLR James papers to the Memory of the World Register | Amerindian names of the Caribbean islands | Andy Palacio & the Garifuna in Belize | interview with Andy Palacio at Global Hits
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS Feed
Other links:
Nominate your favourite podcast/s for a Podcast Award! (Be sure to read the rules, however) | Vote for Caribbean Free Radio at Podcast Alley. Help us make the Top 50 this month! | Tortuga Rum Company – makers of the world-famous Tortuga Rum Cakes. Order yours online today! | Caribbean Free Photo – CFR’s photoblog
Music played in this podcast:
“Iere Vibes” by 3canal from The Best of 3canal | “Se Busca” by Andy Palacio from Keimoun – MP3 downloads available at Calabash Music CDs available at Stonetree Records | “Love Our Children” by Candice Alcantara from Candice Alcantara
Technorati Tags: clr+james, andy+palacio, garifuna, amerindian, caribbean, caribbean+music, podcast, caribbeanfreeradio
Jun
21
An endless series of interruptions drives me into my garden for this freewheeling episode (apologies in advance for iffy sound quality and general raggedness), in which I talk about:
Why long weekends and public holidays don’t do it for me| Labour Day in Trinidad and Tobago and Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler | Mangoes | Anthuriums | Debt relief for Africa | Moussa Sene Absa, Senegalese filmmaker | the MTV crew running roughshod over a protected turtle nesting area in Tobago | how you can support CFR by initiating an order at Amazon.com through any of the links on the site | and play a clip from the This Week in Tech podcast in which Patrick Norton says–okay, in jest–he’s going to buy a certain twin-island state
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS Feed
Other links:
Nominate your favourite podcast/s for a Podcast Award! (Be sure to read the rules, however) | Vote for Caribbean Free Radio at Podcast Alley. Help us make the Top 50 this month! | Tortuga Rum Company – makers of the world-famous Tortuga Rum Cakes. Order yours online today! | Caribbean Free Photo – CFR’s photoblog | CCA7 Arts Centre
Music played in this podcast:
“Pe Letenel” by Emeline Michel from the album Cordes Et Ame
– you can also order the CD from CDBaby through Emeline’s site | “The Streets are Calling” by Dingo & the Hardmore Crew – free dowload at download.com | “One Pant Man” by Manuel Monestel at Calabash Music
Technorati Tags: caribbean, caribbeanfreeradio, podcast, caribbeanmusic, calypso, reggae, Haiti, debtrelief, africandebtrelief, moussaseneabsa, thisweekintech, mtvroadrules, leatherbackturtles, Tobago, Trinidad, costarica
Jun
14
Another longish one, in which I talk jazz and steel with Trinidadian Ron Reid, composer, bassist, steel pannist and professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Hear Ron’s take on arranging for steel orchestras, the steel pan as a jazz instrument and much, much more.
And if you’ve been liking what we’re doing here, please Vote for Caribbean Free Radio at Podcast Alley. Help us make the Top 50 this month!
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS Feed
Links:
Tortuga Rum Company – makers of the world-famous Tortuga Rum Cakes. Order yours online today! | Caribbean Free Photo – CFR’s photoblog
Music played in this podcast:
“Nothing Serious” from Calypsolider by Ron Reid & Sunsteel | “Madame Blondell” and “The Road” from Reid, Wright & Be Happy by Ron Reid, Orville Wright and David “Happy” Williams
This podcast was edited using Propaganda, by MixMeister Technology. Stay tuned for a review of my experience with Propaganda!
Technorati Tags: jazz, panjazz, steelpan, steeldrum, caribbean, music, trinidad, steelorchestra
Jun
03
After a series of fancy-schmancy theme shows, I revert in this episode to the good ol’ CFR formula of talk-music-talk–and I mention those other roots as well.
This podcast was edited using Propaganda, by MixMeister Technology. Stay tuned for a review of my experience with Propaganda!
It’s a new month, which means the voting starts from scratch again at Podcast Alley, so if you’ve been liking what we’re doing here, please Vote for Caribbean Free Radio at Podcast Alley. Help us make the Top 50 this month!
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS Feed
Links:
12′s web site | Tortuga Rum Company – makers of the world-famous Tortuga Rum Cakes. Order yours online today! | Caribbean Free Photo – CFR’s photoblog
Music played in this podcast:
“Carapichaima Dougla” by élan parlé, from the album Kindred Spirits | “Tout Nasyon” by RAM, from the album Kité Yo Palé | “Good News” by 3canal, from the album the The Best of 3Canal | Buy 3canal’s Jab Jab Say at CD Baby
May
27
In which I feature music by the Trinidad & Tobago band 12 and interview 12′s front man Sheldon Holder.
It’s almost the end of the month, but not too late to Vote for Caribbean Free Radio at Podcast Alley. Help us end the month in the Top 50!
This podcast was edited using Propaganda, by MixMeister Technology. Stay tuned for a review of my experience with Propaganda!
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS Feed
Links:
12′s web site | Tortuga Rum Company – our sponsor and makers of the world-famous Tortuga Rum Cakes. Order yours online today!
Technorati Tags: caribbean, caribbeanmusic, caribbeanfreeradio, Trinidad, mixmeistertechnology, podcast, podcasting
May
13
In this episode I turn the tables on the BBC Caribbean Service‘s Franka Philip, who came to interview me on Friday. Hear the inside story on one of the few World Service stations with an increasing listenership, plus a couple of tunes on the side.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS Feed
Links:
Tortuga Rum Company – our sponsor and makers of the world-famous Tortuga Rum Cakes. Order yours online today! | Trinidad & Tobago Computer Society | Vote for CFR at Podcast Alley
Music played/books mentioned in this podcast:
One Big Fat Love Bomb by Sheldon Blackman
Technorati Tags: bbccaribbeanservice, bbc, bbcworldservice, samselvon, vsnaipaul, caribbean, caribbeanfreeradio
Apr
29
A quickie update from St Barts, where I’m attending the St Barth Film Festival, including an interview with Guadeloupean filmmaker Janluk Stanislas. Thanks to Le Square Restaurant at Le Carré d’Or in Gustavia for the Wi-Fi hookup.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS | Subscribe via Odeo
Apr
22
A mini-cast recorded at Gate D24 at Dulles Airport in Washington DC. More talk than usual, mainly about upcoming podcasts, upcoming travels and Delphine; and less music than usual.
You can listen to this podcast in any of the following ways:
MP3 | Online Player | RSS Feed
Links:
Delphine’s blog | St Barth Film Festival | Peter Doig Studio Film Club show at the Museum Ludwig Koln, Germany | Roosevelt in Trinidad by Atilla @ Amazon.com
Apr
12
In Part Two of our interview, Roger, Stanton and Wendell remember the group’s fourth member, the late, great John Isaacs; and I attempt to get Delphine a guest gig on their 2006 album–plus much, much more!
You can listen to it in any of the following ways:
– as an MP3: simply click to stream in your browser, or right-click and save to download the file to your computer
– using our nifty Online Player, which allows you to play the latest podcast as well as several of the previous ones
Subscribe to/syndicate this feed by copying this link or the link on the “XML” icon above and paste into your podcatcher of choice.
Links:
3Canal’s web site | 3canal CDs on Amazon.com | short article on 3Canal from Caribbean Beat | Some recent 3Canal photos
And, hey, if you’ve enjoyed this or any of our other podcasts, why not cast your monthly VOTE for CFR at Podcast Alley?
Apr
08
On our tenth ‘cast CFR visits again with Roger Roberts, Stanton Kewley and Wendell Manwarren of 3canal and plays some of the group’s more “off the beaten path” tunes. This is Part One of a two-part interview.
You can listen to it in any of the following ways:
– as an MP3: simply click to stream in your browser, or right-click and save to download the file to your computer
– using our nifty Online Player, which allows you to play the latest podcast as well as several of the previous ones
Subscribe to/syndicate this feed by copying this link or the link on the “XML” icon above and paste into your podcatcher of choice.
Links:
3Canal’s web site | 3canal CDs on Amazon.com
And, hey, if you’ve enjoyed this or any of our other podcasts, why not cast your monthly VOTE for CFR at Podcast Alley?
Apr
05
Woke up this morning feeling there was a podcast in me waiting to be let out: this is it. A bit of a runt, I’m afraid, but with the usual talk and music, including my own two cents’ on the value of this thing we do.
You can listen to it in any of the following ways:
– as an MP3: simply click to stream in your browser, or right-click and save to download the file to your computer
– using our nifty Online Player, which allows you to play the latest podcast as well as several of the previous ones
Subscribe to/syndicate this feed by copying this link or the link on the “XML” icon above and paste into your podcatcher of choice.
Links:
The Internet Archive | Balún at The Internet Archive | Richard Morse & Ram | Ram’s Puritan Vodou @ Amazon.com | 12 – the band
And, hey, if you’ve enjoyed this or any of our other podcasts, why not cast your VOTE for CFR at Podcast Alley?